LONDON (AP) — Kyle Walker was called up by England coach Fabio Capello for Wednesday's friendly against Denmark after the Tottenham fullback impressed on loan at Aston Villa.
The 20-year-old Walker has played only three minutes as a substitute for Spurs this season but has excelled on loan at second-tier Queen's Park Rangers and now Villa.
The right back is the fifth Villa player in the 25-man squad, with Stewart Downing, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Darren Bent also picked.
Bent is likely to start up front alongside Wayne Rooney in Copenhagen.
Rio Ferdinand is unavailable after he was hurt warming up for Manchester United on Saturday, so Steven Gerrard will be captain.
"I want to see him with Rooney because everyone knows he is terrible for defenders in the box," Capello said. "He takes up good positions, he gets the ball. He scores."
Capello left Bent out of his squad for last year's disappointing World Cup campaign in South Africa but said he has improved this season, especially since joining Villa last month.
"Bent was not as good before the World Cup as he is at this moment," Capello said. "Before, he was only playing for the box. Now, he is a player who can play for the team. At Sunderland before, it was important for them to go straight for the goal. I told him he had to change. He had to work a lot, press a lot.
"He has probably changed something in his mind, not only in his style."
With Ferdinand missing, Capello recalled fit-again Tottenham defender Michael Dawson. He also has Gary Cahill and Joleon Lescott as options to partner John Terry in central defense.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere may play a holding role in front of the defense, with Capello comparing him favorably with France and Real Madrid great Claude Makelele.
"Makelele was faster and could play with both feet but Wilshere is better," Capello said. "He is really intelligent on the pitch and his movement, with and without the ball, has improved a lot."
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Squad:
Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Birmingham), Joe Hart (Manchester City), David Stockdale (Fulham).
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Kyle Walker (Aston Villa).
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Stewart Downing (Aston Villa), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (West Ham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Aston Villa).
Strikers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United.
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